Somalia faces extreme hunger crisis as drought worsens

Somalia stands on the brink of a catastrophic humanitarian emergency. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised urgent alarms about a deepening food insecurity crisis that now threatens millions across the country. With prolonged drought devastating livelihoods, nearly 6.5 million people are grappling with severe food shortages, pushing families to the edge of survival.

Collapse of pastoralism fuels food insecurity

Following two consecutive seasons of failed rainfall, experts warn that food scarcity may spiral back to the devastating levels seen in 2022. Pastoralism, the backbone of Somalia’s economy and a primary income source for over 60% of the population, is collapsing under the strain. Mass livestock losses are stripping families of both food and critical income, forcing thousands to abandon their homes in search of safety. Displacement camps are swelling as communities flee the worst-hit regions.

Voices from the crisis

A 61-year-old herder in Dhusamareb recently watched helplessly as 90% of his goats and two-thirds of his camels perished within a year. “I fear the same fate will befall the people,” he shared. Meanwhile, in Nugal, a 19-year-old mother fled after her entire herd died, desperate to protect her children from starvation.

Mass displacement strains humanitarian aid

Over half a million people were displaced in 2025 alone, driven from their homes by both conflict and relentless drought, particularly in the Al-Miskat hills of the Bari region in Puntland. As humanitarian funding dwindles, aid organizations are being forced to scale back essential programs—food distribution, water access, and healthcare—just as needs reach record highs.

The ICRC has already provided critical support to more than 5,000 displaced families since November 2025. Their interventions include rehabilitating boreholes in Bari and Sanaag, supplying equipment to restore water wells, and treating severely malnourished children at the stabilization center in Kismayo. The organization also backs 11 clinics operated by the Somali Red Crescent Society.

Time is running out for millions

“Without immediate rainfall and a substantial boost in humanitarian aid, millions more could plunge into acute food emergencies,” cautioned the ICRC. Somalia’s crisis has reached a pivotal moment: every passing day escalates the threat of a full-blown humanitarian disaster.